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‘Orbital’ Wins the 2024 Booker Prize
Context:
British author Samantha Harvey has made literary history by winning the 2024 Booker Prize for her novel “Orbital”.
More on News:
- This marks the first time a novel set in space has claimed the prestigious literary award.
- The novel spans just 136 pages, making it the second-shortest work to win the Booker Prize, just four pages longer than Penelope Fitzgerald’s Offshore (1979).
Harvey, who was longlisted for the Booker Prize in 2009 for her debut novel “The Wilderness,” has now solidified her place in literary history with “Orbital.” She has also authored several other novels, including “The Western Wind” and “The Shapeless Unease: A Year of Not Sleeping.”
About ‘Orbital’:
- “Orbital” takes place over a single day aboard the International Space Station (ISS), following the lives of six astronauts and cosmonauts from different countries as they experience 16 sunrises and sunsets in 24 hours.
- The novel explores themes of human connection, the beauty of Earth from space, and the fragility of our planet.
Historical Significance:
- Samantha Harvey is the first woman to win the Booker Prize since 2019.
- Her novel has also become the best-selling book on this year’s shortlist in the UK, outselling the combined sales of the past three Booker Prize winners prior to their success.
Conclusion:
“Orbital” is a testament to the power of literature to transport readers to new and extraordinary places. Samantha Harvey’s achievement with this novel highlights the importance of diverse and innovative storytelling in the world of fiction.
The Booker Prize
- Officially known as the Man Booker Prize until 2019, is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world.
- It is awarded annually to the best single work of fiction written in English and published in the United Kingdom or Ireland.
- The prize was established in 1969 and has since become a mark of distinction for authors.
- Prize Money: The winner receives £50,000 (approximately INR 55,32,555).
